Stanchion



Nov. 8, 1955 Filed Feb. 8, 1954 R. V. WELLS ETAL STANCHIO N 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 2

.28 Q t l6 58 l. 54 1 Ralph v. Wells Joshua R. Wells INVENTORS.

Nov. 8, 1955 R. v. WELLS ET AL STANCHION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 5

INVENTORS. m

Ralph M Wells Joshua A. Wells BY m Filed Feb. 8, 1954 United States Patent STAN CHION Ralph V. Wells, Tuscumbia, and Joshua R. Wells,

Maryville, M0.

Application February 8, 1954, Serial No. 408,826 3 Claims. (Cl. 119-98) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in stanchions and embodying the provision of a stanchion supporting frame which may beset up at the end of a chute or in an opening in a barn or other structure to receive the head of an animal and providing vertically swingable clamping bars in the frame for holding the animal in a restrained position. I o o An object of the present invention is to provide novel means for automatically locking the clamping bars in closed position to hold the animal in the stanchion and an easily releasable means for disengaging the locking means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for regulating the width of the opening between the clamping bars when the clamping bars are in closed position in order to accommodate animals of various sizes.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide a stanchion having means thereon for adjusting the width between the closed stanchion bars in several different positive positions and means for automatically.

locking and manually releasing the vertical stanchion bars.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a stanchion of simple construction, which is efficient and reliable in operation and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and maintain. Y

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view showing the stanchion of the present invention; e

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the construction of Figure 1 disposed within an opening such as those found in cattle chutes;

Figure 3 is a transverse, top plan section taken substantially along section line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the details of construction of the slidable blocks mounted on the vertical stanchion bars;

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section taken substantially along section line 4-4 of Figure 1 showing various details of construction of the stanchion;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail section taken substantially along section line 55 of Figure 1 showing the details of construction of the operating links for moving the vertical stanchion bars;

Figure 6 isa detailed front elevation showing the stanchion bars in closed position with the interlocking arms engaging behind the stanchion bars;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detailed section taken substantially along section line 7-7 of Figure 6 showing the details of construction of the locking member and the relationship of the locking arms as well as the spring means for automatically urging the locking member into engagement with the vertical stanchion bars; and

Figure 8 is a detailed perspective view of one of the connecting links for operating the vertical bars.

Referring now specifically to the drawings,'it will be seen that the numeral 10 generally designates the stanchion of the present invention including a pair of vertical side members 12 held in parallel spaced relation by an upper and lower cross member 14. The cross members 14 and the side members 12 are secured together by suitable bolts 16 or similar fastening means. A cross member 18 is secured between the side members 12 substantially at the center of the side members 12 and another cross member 20 is positioned between the cross members 12 in vertical spaced relation to the cross member 18. Both of the cross members '18 and 20 are located stanchion bars 22 are slidably received between the sections of the cross beam 20 and are attached to a pair of connecting links 28 which are pivotally secured at their inner ends to a connecting lug 30. The connecting lug 30 is attached to a flexible rope 32 which extends vertically and is positioned through an eye member 34 secured centrally of the cross beam 14 at the upper end of the side members 12. By manipulation of the rope 32, the links 28 are drawn upwardly at their inner ends thereby moving the upper ends of the stanchion bars 22 inwardly towards each other to a closed position for restraining an animal as indicated in Figure 6. The outer ends of the links 28 are provided with a'plate 36 having a pivot bolt 38 extending therethrough for pivotally securing the links 28 to the upper ends of the bars 22. The outer ends of the links 28 also receive a fastening member 40 for preventing the links 28 from splitting due to the forces applied by the animals and by the rope 32. A tension coil spring 42 is disposed between'the lower end of each of the stanchion bars 22 and respective side members 12 for urging the bars 22 to an open position. Also, it will be seen that suitable cam elements 44 are pivotally secured to the cross member 14 on pivot pins 46 for adjusting the position of the pivot pin 24 in the slots 26 thereby adjustably securing the stanchion bars 22 to the cross member 14 and adjusting the distance between the stanchion bars 22 when the stanchion bars 22 are in closed position.

Secured centrally of the cross beam 18 is a right anthereof is a pair of brackets 50 having the tubular lower 7 end for pivotally receiving a locking member 52. The locking member 52 is generally an elongated rod having a pair of angulated end portions 54 and 56 at each end of the rod or bar 52. The inner of the angulated end portions indicated by the numeral 54 is disposed in angular relation to the outer of the angulated end portions 56. The end portions 54 and 56 are swingably mounted for engagement behind the bars 22. The angulated end portion 56 engages behind a bar 22 as the bar 22 is drawn inwardly. As the bar 22 continues inward movement the angulated end portion 54 engages behind the bars 22. The angulated end portion 56 which first engages behind the bar 22 rides against the bar 22 when it is in its outermost position substantially as shown in Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 7, the inner angulated end 54 is in engagement with the stanchion bar 22 thereby holding it in its innermost position. A right angular member 58 is secured to the bar 52 substantially at its mid-point and has a tension spring 62 positioned between the lug 48 and the bracket 58 for normally urging the angulated end portions 54 and 56 towards the bar 22. At the outer end' of the bracket 58 is secured a flexible line 64 passing upwardly through an eye member 66 on the upperbeam14 wherein the bar 52 may be pivoted in order to, disengage the; angulated end portions, 54,-and 56. from behind the stanchion bars 22. Along the. longitudinal. length of the bars 22. onthe, outer surfaces, thereof is provided a pair of slidable blocks 68 held in position thereon, by a pair of Urshaped strap, members 70. and, a screw member 72 projects from the side of the block 68 thereby limiting the sliding movement between the U-shaped straps 70. The lower .U-shaped strap 70 includes a pivotal U-shaped binding lug 74 for frictionally retaining the sliding blocks 68. in. elevated position. It will be seen; that the sliding blocks 68, are movable into position for engagement by the angulated-end portions 54 and 56 of the rockable bar 52 thereby providing a wider range of adjustment for the distance between the upper ends of the stanchion bars 22. when, in their closed position.

The operation ofthe device will be readily understood. As the rope 32, is pulled therebyraising the member 30 andpivoting the links 28 upwardly, the upper ends. of the stanchion bars 22 are moved towards each other. As the stanchion bars 22 move towards each other, the tension spring 62. will urge the outer angulated ends 56 of the bar 52 behind the stanchion bars 22. If the stanchion bars 22,are not close enough in this position, the rope 32 may be pulled some more thereby urging the bars 22 towards .each other and permitting the; inner angulated ends 54 to be automatically positioned behind. the stanchion bars 22. If itis found that this does not permit the stanchion bars to be closeenough, the slidable blocks 68 may be raised to a position level with the, bar 52, thereby permitting the sequential engagement of the angulated ends 54 and 56 behind the block 68 thereby moving the stanchion bars .22. inwardly to, their closest relative position. Ifnecessary, a slight adjustment may be accomplished by manipulating the cam members 44 for changing the. relative position-of thepivot pins 24 and the, slots 26 at the lower end of the stanchion 10. When it is desired to release the stanchion bars 22 from a closed position to an-open position, the rope- 64 is pulled thereby pivoting the bracket.58 and the bar 52 which releases the angulated end portions 54 and 56 from behind the vertical stanchion bars 22. It will be understood that the adjust ment features of this device permits the positioning. of the-stanchion bars 22 in .various closed position with adjusted distances between the stanchion bars 22 when in closed position. its simplicity, the stanchion of the present-invention is dependable and rugged and may be utilized inany suitable place such as the chute in cattlepens or the like.

Fromthe foregoing, the construction and operation of l the. device will be readily understood and further explanation is'believed to be unnecessary. However, since num- Further, it will be seen that due to erous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled inthe art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A stanchion comprising a frame, a pair of vertical stanchion bars having lower ends pivotally and slidably connected to a part of the frame for movement of the bars toward and away from each other into an open or closed position, spring means connecting the bars to the frame for holding the. bars in open position, a. pullrope connected to the bars for closing the same, spring actuated locking means for the bars carried by the frame for automatically locking the bars in a closed position, means connected to the locking means for releasing the same,

,and upper and, lower adjusting means for regulating the size of the openingformed by the bars, said upper adjusting means comprising slidable blockscarried by the bars and slidable into and out of position forengagement by the locking means, saidlocking member including a substantially U-shaped bar having. a pair of longitudinally and angularly spaced locking arms at each end swingable into a locking positionbehind the bars, and, angularly spaced arms of each pair permitting the arms to selectively engage behind the bars.

2. In a cattle stanchion having a pair of vertical stanchion bars pivoted at their lower ends to a supporting structure for swinging movement toward and away from each other into an open or closed position, a spring urged rockable locking member movable into a position behind ,,both bars to hold the same in closed position, said locking member comprising a substantially U-shaped bar having a pair of longitudinally spaced arms at each end thereof, said arms being angularly disposed on. said bar for sequential engagement behind said bars.

3. In a cattle stanchion having a pair of vertical stanchion bars pivoted at their lower ends to a supporting structure for swinging movement toward and away from each other into an open or closed position, a spring urged rockable locking member movable into a position behind both bars to hold the same in closed position, said locking member comprising a substantially U-shaped bar having a pair of longitudinally spaced arms at each end thereof, said arms being angularly disposedon said bar for sequential engagement behind said bars, and a slidable block mounted on each vertical bar and movable into and out of position for engagement by said locking. arms for adjusting the distance between said vertical stanchion bars when in their closed position.

References Cited in the'file of this patent UNITED. STATES PATENTS 2,523,459 Wells Sept. 26, 1950 

